ITALY’S new welfare minister Elsa Fornero yesterday broke down in tears as she announced a new batch of austerity measures aimed at getting the government’s spending back under control.
Fornero was overcome as she took part in a press conference last night, when she was discussing proposals to cut the traditional link between state pension and the rate of inflation, when
The plans also include moves to raise the retirement age for women to 66 by 2018, in line with the move already planned for men.
“We had to – and it cost us a lot, psychologically – ask for a…” Fornero said, before stopping to fight back some tears.
Prime minister Mario Monti, who was also taking part in the conference, finished her response by explaining that the new technocratic government had had to ask for a “sacrifice” from the Italian public.
The following video, from the Daily Telegraph, shows the moments that Fornero broke down.
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